Single-trigger mechanism for firearms.



Patented ma 2:, I901.

A. E. LARD. SINGLE TRIGGER MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS.

(Application filed June 21, 1899.)

(No Modem No. 674,508. Patented May 2|, I901.

A. E. LARD. SINGLE TRIGGER MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS.

(Application filed june 21, 1899.)

(No Model.)

-the trigger.-

UNITED STATES ALLAN EDWARD LARD, OF ST'. JOSEPH, MISSOURI.

SIN GhE-TRIGGER MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS SPECIFICATION forming part ofLetters Patent No. 674,508, dated May 2 1, 1901.

Application filed June 21, 18991 Serial No, 721,281- (No model-I To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALLAN EDWARD LARD, of St. Joseph, in the county ofBuchanan and State of Missouri, have invented certain newand usefulImprovements. in Firearms; and

.I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form'part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to the firing mechanism for firearms of thatclass set forth in my prior application, Serial No. 676,091, filed April1, 1898.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter fully set forth, anddefined in the appended cla ms.

The invention is herein shown in connection with a shotgun provided-withtwo shotbarrels and looks or firing mechanisms embracing twohammers,-together with means for actuating the same by successive'pullson The invention, however, may be applied to firearms of other kinds andto those having more than two barrels.

In the drawings, Figure l is a view in side elevation of the breechmechanism of a douhle-barreled shotgun madein accordance with myinvention. Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is asection taken on line-3 30f Fig. 1. Figs. 4 and 5 are details ofmechanism for reversing the order in which the barrels are discharged.Fig. 6 is a top planview of movable firing-lugs constituting part of myinvention. Fig. 7 isa section taken on'-line 7 7 of Fig. 1. Figs. 8 and9 are side elevations, partly in section, of the firing mechanism,showing the positions the parts assume du ing the operation thereof. I

As shown" in the drawings, A indicates the body or ,wo'oden portion ofthe gun-stockflfi, the frame; C, the barrels, which are pivoted to theforward extension of the frame.

indicates a snap-lever by which the locking'detent holding the barrelsin place is actuated.

G is a trigger-plate to which the trigger is pivoted and upon which, inthe particular instance illustrated, the main parts of thefiringnn'echanism are mounted. 'lhe locks are shown as being providedeach with tho the end of the sear usual hammer or tumbler F, mainspringsF, sear F and sear-spring F The frame is provided at its forward endwith two cockinglevers F which extend into a recess din the forwardextension D and which are actuated in the depression of the forward endof the ba rels at the time of loading, so as to cook or throw backthehammers in the usual manner.

Nowreferring to the firing mechanism by which the sears F are actuatedfor releasing the hammers, the same in the particular embodiment of myinvention herein shown is constructed as follows:

J indicates the trigger, which is pivotally mounted on atrigger-standard G, which is integral with the said trigger-plate andprojects upwardly within the frame. The said trigger is provided with anupwardly and. rearwardly extending trigger-blade .I', madeintegraltherewith and which takes the place of the firing-platedescribed in my previous application. The said trigger-blade is providedin its 'rear end with a horizontal rearwardly-opening slot j, movablefiring-block (indicated as a whole by K) and which is provided on itsopposite sides with laterally-projecting lugs K which are offset fromeach other, or, in other words, one placed in advance of the other,

so that when one of the said lugs is in position for contact with onesear the other of said lugs will necessarily be at the front or rear ofthe other sear. Preferably and as shown the said firing-block isprovided on each side thereof with depressionsk k below the surface ofthe lugproper. On one side the said depression is-in'front of thefiring-lug and on the other side it is behind the lug,

of the gun will rest in one of said depressions after the discharge ofthe first barrel. The.

lower margin of the slot at the rear end of the trigger-blade is, asshown, provided with a guide-ribj, Fig. 7, and the movable firingblock Kis provided on its under surfacewith a longitudinal'groove compleinentalto the said rib, so that when the said firing-block is inserted in thetrigger-blade. free longitudinal movement thereof is permitted, Whilelateral movement is made impossible by reason the parts being soarranged that in the undischarged side in which is secured a of theaforementioned guide-rib engaging the said groove. A pin 70 depends fromthe under side of the lug to a point near the triggerplate G, and thelower end of the said pin is engaged with a transverse slot in theforward end of a shifting bar which slides longitudinally'upon the innerside of the triggerplate. The f ward end of the said shifting bar isprovided with a lateral stud 10 A spring (herein shown as having theform of a leaf-spring) is secured at one end upon the saidtrigger-plate, and the free end thereof presses downwardly upon the saidstud 70 so as to hold the shifting bar from accidental movement.Preferably the free end of the said leaf-spring will be provided withtwo bends or notches so disposed that when the shifting bar is slidrearwardly the notch near the extremity of the free end of theleaf-spring will engage the stud 70 and thereby hold the "firing-blockKin position to engage thE right sear first, while if the shifting bariss'lid forward the said block K will also be moved to its forwardposition and the stud 10 will engage the-forward notch in the spring,the partsthen being in a position adapted to discharge the left harrelfirst. Convenient means for actuating the said shifting bar is aifordedby providing a longitudinal slot in the trigger-plate adjacent to thetrigger-guard and by securing to said shifting bana thum bpiece or slide10 by'means of astud passing through said slot. The thun1b-piece7c,which actuates the shifting bar 10 will preferably for actual use belocated opposite the rear end of the trigger-guard. It is shown at therear merely for clearness.

A spring J is applied to the trigger-blade in such manner that it tendsto lift the rear end of the same. In the particular details ofconstruction illustrated the trigger-blade J is provided upon its upperedge with a lugj and the trigger-standard ,G, on which the said triggerblade is pivoted,. is provided with an upward projection g, while thespring J 2 has the form of a coiled contractible spring secured to thelugj and the projection g, so

as to no'rmally hold the trigger-blade'elevated and in such positionthat one of the firinglugs always presses against or is in contact withone ofthe sears. The sear-springs are so much stronge" than the spring Jas to avoid possibility of eithersear being moved or actuated by thepressureof said spring alone.

L indicates a detent which is movably supported upon the triggei bladeand is herein shown as having the form of a forwardly and upwardlyprojecting prong or spur on the lower end of a detent-lever N, which ispivoted to the trigger-blade, near the top of the same, by means of thepivot 'n and is adapted to engage a rearwardly and downwardly projectingholding or looking tooth m, form ed on the top of the detent-post M.Said post M is pivotally attached to a lug G which is formed on thetrigger-plate G at a pointforward of the detent-lever N. The saiddetentor rod, is pivoted on the rear end 9f the trigger-blade, so as toswing in a plane parallel with the sides thereof, and the free end ofsaid dog is adapted to swing forwardly into position to engage the\leverN at a point below its pivot 'n, and thereby limit the rearward movementof the detent L. The said dog is provided on each side thereofi'with'laterally-projecting studs oand 0, which extend into a position to beengaged by either one of the sears. Inasmuch as the said dog swings onone side of the trigger-blade, a curved slot is provided in the same,through 1 75 A holding-dog 0, having the form of a bar Conven- 70 whichone of the said studs projects to a point above the sear on that side ofthe said trigger-blad e. Upon the lifting of either sear to dischargeeither barrel the end of the sear which is lifted engages one of thesaid studs,

and thereby lifts the free end of the dog out of engagement with thelever N. The front edgevof the detent-post M extends downwardly intoposition to engage the trigger plate or a projection thereon, andthereby limits the forward movement of the top-of.1oo

said post. A spring M, preferably having the form of a push-spring,engages the lower end of said lever, on the front side thereof, andtendsto hold the lower end of the same constantly in contact with thetrigger-plate I05 and the upper end of said post at the forward limit ofits movement. A sliding weight I is provided at the rear of said leversN and M, the same consisting of a straight bar of metal provided on itsupper side with an upwardly-projecting arm or stud I, which is adaptedto engage a lateral stud n in the i lower end of the detent-lever N. Thefront end of the weight extends forwardly beyond the said armsufficiently far to engage the bottom of the lever M at the same timethat the arm I engages thestud n of the lever N..

,Said weight I slides in a groove in the inner side of the trigger-plateand is secured longitudinally therein by means of the lugs 2' 'i on 126each side of the said weight. A pin 1'' passes through the top of thesaid lugs to prevent the weight from being thrown out of the slot in thetrigger-plate. A pullipg-spring I is secured byone of its ends to the'reare weight, and the other end of the same .is' secured to a Stud 1,secured upon the inner side of the trigger-plate. The normal action ofthe said spring is to hold the said weight retracted or in its .rearmostposition and out of contact 130 with the lower end of the lever M andthe said fill-fiddl Thestrength of the said spring Bis not sufiicient,however, to prevent the said weight being thrown forward by the recoilof rid of the said &

.wardly, as previously described.

So far as the operation of thevdevice for changing the order of firingis concerned, the operation of said devices will be the same whether thepart herein called the triggerblade be rigidly attached to the triggerorwhether it have alimited movementwithrespect to the trigger, as is thecase with the firing-plate shown in said prior application.

hereinbefore referred to. The same is true also of the safety-catchhereinbefore de scribed, it being obvious that the same is applicable tothe construction of the other parts shown in said prior application, aswell as to that hereinbefore illustrated. l

I claim as my invention 1-. The combination with a plurality of locksand the sears thereof, of a firing mechanism comprising a single triggerprovided with a rearward] y extending rigidly attached trigger-blade, aspring-actuated detent on the trigger-blade, a tooth on the frameadapted tobe engaged by the detent on the triggerblade, holding meansacting on the said dotent to retain the latter in position forengagement with said tooth and adapted for actuation by the sears torelease said detent, and means operated in the act of loading the armacting on the detent to place it in interlocking relation with the toothpreparatory to the firing of the first barrel.

2. The combination with a plurality of locks and the searsthereof, of afiring mechanism comprising a single trigger provided with a rearwardlyextending rigidly attached trigger-blade, a spring-actuated detent-leverpivoted to the trigger-blade, a tooth on the frame adapted to be engagedby said detent-lever, a pivoted holding-dog on the trigger-blade adaptedto engage thedetent-lever and which is adapted for actuation by thesears and a rod which is moved in the act of loading the arm and whichacts on said detent-lever toplace same in interlocking relation with thetooth,

3. The combination with a plurality of locks 4 and the sears thereof, ofa single trigger provided with a rearwardly-extending rigidly-attachedtrigger-blade, a spring applied to lift the rear end of thetrigger-blade, a spring-actuated detentlever pivoted on thetriggerblade, a tooth on the frame adapted to be engaged by saiddetent-lever, a holding-dog on the trigger-blade adapted to engage thedetent-lever and which is adapted for actuation by the sears, and a rodwhich is moved in the act of locking the arm and which-acts on saiddetent-h ver.

4. The combination with a plurality of locks and the scars thereof, of asingle trigger provided with a rearwardly-extending rigidly-attachedtrigger-blade, a spring-actuated detent-lever pivoted to said blade, atooth on the frame adapted for engagement with said detent-lever, apivoted holding-dog on the blade adapted to engage the detent-lever andwhich is adapted for actuation by the sears, a rod which is moved in theact of loading the arm and which acts on said detent, and amovably-supported weight adapted to strike, and arrest the rearwardmovement of, the detentlever.

5. The combination witha plurality of locks and the scars thereof, of asingle trigger pro- .vided with a rearwardly-extending,rigidly-attachedtrigger-blade, a spring actuated detent-lever pivoted to thetriggerblade, a spring-actuated detent-post pivoted to the frame, apivoted holding-dog on the triggerblade adapted to engage thedetent-lever and which is adapted for actuation by the scars, a rodwhich is moved in the act of loading the arm and which acts on saiddetent-lever and a movably-supported weight which acts on saiddetent-post to throw the same-into position for engagement with thedetent-lever.

6. The combinationwith a plurality of locks and the scars thereof, of asingle trigger provided with a rea'rwardlg-extendin g rigidly-attachedtrigger-blade, a spring-actuated detent-lever pivoted to thetriggerblade, a spring-actuated detent-post pivoted to the frame, apivoted holding-dog on the triggerblade adapted to engage thedetent-lever and which is adapted for actuation by the scars, a rodwhich is moved in the act of loading the arm and which acts on saiddetent-lever, and a movably-supported weight which acts both on thedetent-l'ever and detent-post to throw the same into position for.engagement.

7- The combination with a pluralityof locks and the sears thereof, of asingle trigger provided with a rearwardly-extending rigidly-attachedtrigger-blade, said trigger-blade being provided withlaterally-extending lugsadapted for 'engagement with the scars, aspring-actuated detent-lever pivoted to the triggerblade, a tooth on theframe, adapted for engagement with said detent-lever, aholdingdogpivoted on the trigger-blade in position to engage thedetent-lever and to be acted upon by the scars when the same are lifted,and a rod which is moved in the act of loading the arm and which acts onsaid detentlever.

8. 'The combination with a plurality of locks and the scars thereof, ofa single trigger provided with a rearwardly-extending, rigidlyattachedtrigger-blade, provided with laterally-extending lugs adapted forcontact with the sears, a spring-actuated detent-lever piv.

oted to the trigger-blade, a tooth on the frame adapted to be engaged bysaid detent-lever,

engage the detent-lever and which is provided with projecting pins,located over the scars in position to belifted by the same, and a rod aholding-dog on the trigger-blade adapted to I which is moved in theact'of loading the arm and which acts on said'detent-lever.

erases the gun at the time of firing one of the barrels into strikingcontact with the said parts, thereby forcing the top of the detent-postM rearwardly and the lower end of the detentlever N forwardly. Thismovement of the weight insures interlocking of the detent L with theholding-tooth m and prevents the discharge of the second barrel by therecoil of the arm or by the involuntary pull which occurs after thedischarge of the first barrel.

Provision is made for throwing the. detent L forwardly or into positionfor locking engagement with the holding-tooth m by means of actuatingconnections operated by a part which is moved in the act'ol loading thearm. As shown in the present instance,.s-aid actu= ating device for thedetent is operated from the snap-lever E through the medium of the rodE, which is connected with and actuated by the snap lev'er The slidingbar H extends centrally and rearwardly above the triggew blade and is ofsuch length that when the snap-lever is actuated and the 'gun is brokenfor the purpose of loading the rear end of the said rod Hengages the topof-the leverN and pushes. the same rearwardly; ih'r'eby causing acorresponding rel c-and movement of the detent L beneath theholding-tooth mand at the same time permitting the dog 0 to fall behindthe said lever N until the end thereof rests at a point below thepivotn. During thisoperation the hammers or tumblers are set or cockedand the rear end of the sears are carried downwardly to their lowermostposition. One otthe said sears is now in contact with the firing-lug,while the scar on the opposite side of the triggerblade is out ofcontact with its corresponding firing-lug, the rear or hooked endthereof being on the same elevation as the other scar and directly abovethe depression. In this position the lateral studs 0 and 0 rest upon therear ends of the sears, thereby pre venting the forward end of the dog;0 from falling lower than its most effective locking position withrespect to the leverN and holding the detent L beneath. theholding-tooth m. This is the position the parts assume after the gunhas. been loaded and is ready for firing; and the position'illustratedin Fig. 1,- by which it will be seen that the firing-block is-adjustedto his the-left barrel first. Upon now pulling the trigger thetrigger-blade is lifted, and with it the left sear, suhiciently todischarge the gun.- The up ward-movement of the rear end of thesearraises the dog 0 out of contact with the lever N. The detentL is soarranged with respect to the holding-tooth m of the detentpost M thatwhen the parts are in position for firing the first barrel, as shown inFig. l, the end'of said deteut will stand beneath the tooth 'm at'sucliadistance from the same as to permit sufficient upward movement of thetrigger-blade to accomplish the firing of the first barrel before thesaid detent L strikes said tooth. It renews that the upward movement ofthe trigger-blade and fi ring-lugs in the firing of theiirst barrel isairrested by contact of the said detent L with the tooth in before thesecond lug on the triggerblade comes in contact with these-send sear.

Such contact of the delenearmj'fith said tooth willprevent furthermovement of the trigger blade afterthe first barrel has been so fired.

Aniuvoluntary pull invariably follows the first pull, probably by reasonof the rebound of the gun from the shouldeeaml the action of the musclesunder the recoil. The purpose of the sliding weight I is to prevent thedetect-lever N being thrown back by its spring N free'from the tooth inuntil arter the iil voluntary entatalien so that the movement 6f thetrigger under the involnn tary pull will be blocked by the engagement ofsaid detent L with the tooth mt In the re= coil of the flilm the weightI Willbc thrown for; ward rim-i i me anti 1' isjiii position to attestbackward movement of th edetent L, so as to retain it inits holdingposition long enoughio.

insure its contact witl i thealiild'tli Wt at the time of theihiblliiit'ary pull. At the same time that the weight I arrests thebackward movement of the detentdever it also strikes the detent-post M,thereby throwing its upper end rearwardly ate f lirtherinsuring that theti'eti'aii't L and tooth m will stand in interlocked relation to blockthe'involnntary pull when it occurs. This osition of the posts isclearly Y seeninFlgi s. rantsiiiveuintaryplillhas ceased the weight l is'itrzited by the spring I, the spring M pushes the lower end of thelever M rearwardly,'which causes a e rie: spending forward ineveiientotitlie libliliilg tooth m, the spring threes the lower end of thelever N; with its detect, rearwardly; and the ear-is of the firingmechanism assume the position shown in Fig. 9, in which, as elearlyshown, the rear end of the rlfilit's'earisin operative coma-ct withthebottoiii of tirade,

presses 7.? on the right side of the firing block and the arm is inreadiness for the dis charge of thesecond barren After the dis chargetrite setting barrel the firing ineich= anisni will be again restored tothe position indicated in Fig. l by the acts necessary for reloading thearm.

In Fig. 1 I have shown a safety catch or device whereby the firingmechanism may be etfeetively blocked against all possibility of itsdischarge during transportation'or ordinary handling. The deviceconsists in a de pending arm P, integral with the harp, which slideslongitudinally of the arm on the under side of the tang. A longitudinalslot is provided in said tang, and the harp is provided with a stud p,which extends upwardly through the said slotand is provided at its topwith a thumlrpiece or slide P, whereby the said bar, with its dependingarm P, may be moved orrshiftcd. When the bar ismoved' backwardly, soasto bring its depending arm above the stud j on the? trigger-bladeandintoengagement with the said stud, any up ward movement of the'trigge'r-blade will be 9. The combination with a plurality of locks andthe sears thereof, of a single trigger provided with arearwardly-extending rigidlyattached trigger-blade, a spring-actuateddetent-lever pivoted to the trigger-blade, a tooth on the frame adaptedfor engagement with said detent-lever, a pivoted holding-dog on thetrigger-blade adapted to engage the detent-lever and which is adaptedfor actuation by the sears, a rod which is moved in the act of loadingthe arm and which acts on said detent-lever, a sliding weight adapted toact on the detent-lever, and a retracting-spring connected with saidsliding weight. w

10. The combination with a plurality of locks and the sears thereof, ofa single trigger provided with a rearwardly-extendiug trigger-blade, asliding block mounted on the trigger-blade and provided at each sidethereof with elevated and depressed surfaces adapted for contact .Withthe sears, and means for shifting said block from the exterior of theframe.

11. The combination with a plurality of looks and the sears thereof, ofa single trigger provided with a rearward ly-extended trigger blade, asliding block mounted on the trigger-blade and provided at each sidethereof with elevated and depressed surfaces adapted for contact withthe sears, and means for shift-.

external button adapted to be normally engaged. I In testimony that Iclaim the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature, in presence oftwo witnesses, this 17th day of June, A. D. 40

ALLAN EDWARD LAR'D.

Witnesses:

J. L. WOODSON, J. W. PETERSON.

